<p>The system is far from perfect but usually being denied FA is a different story from being on a FA waitlist, or even being rejected or waitlisted BECAUSE you need FA. Parents fill out the elaborate forms and submit their tax returns and this is all analyzed. If two schools both denied you aid, chances are high you won’t convince them otherwise unless there is a mistake in the original forms (which should have been foreseen with the SSS family report which shows expected contribution). Not being able to pay is different from not wanting to pay. Not to be too harsh, but the reality is that financial aid is not a right.</p>